The Europa Clipper mission will investigate the geophysical properties of Europa, one of Jupiter’s Galilean moons, to assess its habitability. Geodetic measurements will play a critical role in determining Europa’s internal structure, including the thickness of the ice shell, the presence and extent of a subsurface ocean, and the distribution of mass in the deeper interior. To build the necessary geodetic data set, the Geodesy Focus Group (GFG) coordinates cross-instrument efforts to measure Europa’s global shape, rotational parameters, gravity field, and degree-2 tidal Love numbers (k2 and h2). Here we summarize how data from the Gravity/Radio Science (G/RS) investigation, Europa Imaging System (EIS), Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding (REASON), and Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS) will be used to infer geodetic constraints on the interior structure and to establish a precise cartographic reference system for geophysical and geological interpretation. Together, the resulting geodetic information will contribute to a deeper understanding of Europa’s internal dynamics and the potential habitability of its ocean.
Geodetic Investigations of the Europa Clipper Mission / Steinbrugge, G.; Park, R. S.; Roberts, J. H.; Bland, M.; Brooks, S.; Castillo-Rogez, J.; Cascioli, G.; Genova, A.; Greathouse, T.; Hussmann, H.; Kirk, R.; Magnanini, A.; Mazarico, E.; Nimmo, F.; Park, M. S.; Petricca, F.; Retherford, K.; Schroeder, D. M.; Soderlund, K. M.; Tortora, P.; Zannoni, M.. - In: SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS. - ISSN 0038-6308. - 222:1(2026). [10.1007/s11214-025-01250-x]
Geodetic Investigations of the Europa Clipper Mission
Cascioli G.;Genova A.;
2026
Abstract
The Europa Clipper mission will investigate the geophysical properties of Europa, one of Jupiter’s Galilean moons, to assess its habitability. Geodetic measurements will play a critical role in determining Europa’s internal structure, including the thickness of the ice shell, the presence and extent of a subsurface ocean, and the distribution of mass in the deeper interior. To build the necessary geodetic data set, the Geodesy Focus Group (GFG) coordinates cross-instrument efforts to measure Europa’s global shape, rotational parameters, gravity field, and degree-2 tidal Love numbers (k2 and h2). Here we summarize how data from the Gravity/Radio Science (G/RS) investigation, Europa Imaging System (EIS), Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding (REASON), and Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS) will be used to infer geodetic constraints on the interior structure and to establish a precise cartographic reference system for geophysical and geological interpretation. Together, the resulting geodetic information will contribute to a deeper understanding of Europa’s internal dynamics and the potential habitability of its ocean.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
